2 foolproof ways I generate $500 article ideas (copy me)
Over the past 2 years or so of blogging, I’ve written more than 70 posts that have generated at least $100, including a dozen that produced $500 or more.
The reasons for an article popping over $100 are varied, touching on things like trends, topics, writing quality, packaging (i.e. headline and art), and algorithmic luck.
But one thing they all have in common?
They all start with a great idea.
This is one of, perhaps THE most common question that successful writers get from amateurs.
“How do you come up with your ideas?”
You want to know the crazy thing, though?
It’s not that hard, and you actually do it every day without thinking about it.
Allow me to explain.
The seeds of $100, $500, and $1000 articles
I’m sure a lot of people think coming up with profitable content ideas is complex, talent-based, or the result of hard work.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
There are 2 main ways I come up with $100, $500, and $1000 article ideas.
The first is completely effortless, while the second takes a tiny bit of effort but is actually pretty fun.
I’m going to tell you about those now, but make sure you read all the way to the end because there’s a secret ingredient you need to add or none of this will work.
The first way I generate $500 article ideas
The first way I generate $500 articles starts like this:
I meditate for an hour, opening a cosmic channel to the universe
I mix TWO types of specially formulated kombucha and drink the concoction out of a unique ‘creativity cup’ that I created with my own hands at a pottery camp
Finally, I open my computer and start a series of typing exercises to …
…I’m kidding, of course.
There is absolutely nothing mystical about coming up with writing ideas, in spite of what many people believe.
In fact, the main secret to coming up with ideas is to not try at all.
Some of my best content ideas have come to me while I’m:
On a walk down a trail near my house
Taking a shower
Making my kids’ lunches for school
Doing the dishes
Driving somewhere
This is actually easier when you just start out, because your brain is crackling with excitement at the idea of becoming a writer and you’re more attuned to your surroundings as a source of ideas.
I do think it’s important to experience new things and do some reading to aid in the idea hunt.
But there’s also a sneaky effective way to read that can pump up this process as well.
Let me tell you about that now.
The second way I generate $500 article ideas
It’s actually easier than ever to find interesting things to write about because Big Tech is feeding it to you every single day.
And best of all, it’s free.
I do read a handful of specific publications, but any time I open up my Chrome or Edge browsers, there are also a bunch of articles algorithmically selected for me based on my personal interests.
As such, the more I read stories that could serve as the basis of blog posts — which is what interests me the most — the more Google and Microsoft will feed me similar articles.
Now, just because something lands on this curated list, doesn’t mean it’s automatically the basis of an A+ idea.
Here’s where you need to use your actual brain.
As you read anything, pay special attention to what gets your eyes to stop moving.
I wrote about this strategy recently in a piece about the top reasons people don’t click on your articles:
“One thing that helped me improve my performance on YouTube was slowing down and thinking about what caused me to click on a video.
“Instead of just trying to hack the system, I actually went on the site with the mindset of a user and noted the things I personally would have clicked on.
“The first thing people’s eyes scan to, whether it’s a video or an article, is the art you choose to illustrate it with.
“THEN they move on to the headline to see if the story checks out.
“THEN, if they’re convinced it’s worth clicking on, they’ll go ahead and consume the content.
“So use my one easy trick: go on whatever platform you’re working on, or even just do this when you’re reading the news, and pay attention to what forces your eyes to stop moving.
“What was it about that particular photo or headline or idea that made you stop?
“Study these.
“Learn from them.”
If something was interesting enough to slow down your scanning, there’s a good chance it’ll grab other people’s attention as well.
This is especially important in the era of short attention spans we currently live in.
By doing this little exercise, you’re field-testing ideas in real time.
The secret ingredient
OK, so you’re out on a walk or you’ve stopped to read something interesting and you think you have what might be a $500 article idea.
There’s one more thing you must do or this all falls apart.
You absolutely, 100%, without delay, must … write it down.
It seems so simple, so obvious.
But if you don’t do it, I guarantee you will fail.
I’ve always described great ideas like feathers floating in the wind.
They’re beautiful, they’re fleeting, and they’re GONE if you don’t grab them.
And if you don’t believe me, check out this video in which I explain how two genius content creators use the simple act of writing ideas down to create multi-million-dollar, culture-defining ideas.
Did you find this article useful?
Have any more questions?
Let me know in the comments!
My current top 5 trending stories
And I was going to ask where you offer your handmade creativity cups for sale - hahahahahaahahaha!!!! That was awesome.
Seriously, lots of value in this article, James. Thanks for the insights.